The ups and downs of welding ALUMINUM???

Well it looks like Lux is gonna be buying some welding equipment. Hack, send your welding projects his way .

Thanks,
Kurt

 

I took a class and learned to tig weld aluminum. It wasn't so bad.
up - really not too difficult with practice and good fitment, and the welds are beautiful
down - forgetting about how well it transfers heat and the resultant burned flesh and warpage

after that class, though, I realized that unless I ever needed to do lots of alum welding, I was a GMAW man.

 

I know more about Romeo Void than I do about welding aluminum, but wouldn't mind learning. Of course, I'd probably do something stupid like weld up an aluminum go-kart and go kill myself!

My brother does this all day for the Navy, they have 2 metal shops on the Nimitz!

 

I weld aluminum daily....in many different sizes & thickness........with that said........

Aluminum is really no harder to weld than steel......if you do it daily. Perhaps my background in the power generation repair biz with Gen. Elec. helps but even I had to start somewhere.....

1. Your choice of machine does indeed have some weight as to the quality of you final product.
After you get proficient with welding the machine is not AS important.

2. PRACTICE really makes perfect!! Daily......

3. DO NOT weld galvy items unless you are wearing a approved breathing apparatus or are using a vent next to the work your doing. The fumes from this will make you sick & possibly kill you.

4. Aluminum wire feed machines are generally for industrial use.

5. The secret to welding aluminum, which most people do not realize when welding steel, is to make sure you project is CLEAN. I wipe my projects down with alkyhol or something a bit stronger. Stay away from using MEK - it's a cancer causer.

6. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.......eventually you will be the guy everyone bring their aluminum projects to!!

Some of my work has been on the Discovery Channels Biker Build Off (in aluminum) for a few different builders

PACO.